Kingdom Hearts: Dissidia Prologus

Everything is fuzzy at first. Such an old memory always seems to begin that way. But the reason for how blurry it was went deeper than just that. Her eyes had still been trying to adjust. Slowly, the memory becomes clear enough to see what was happening.

There was a fire in front of her. She had been wrapped up in a blanket, and there was food and water for her. When she looked up, she saw someone moving towards the fire to put more wood on it.

"I'm not in Radiant Garden anymore, am I?"
---
She was in the middle of a plain that stretched as far as the eye could see. Knowing that she needed to learn how to survive and defend herself, he had made her a spear. Now when they were hunting for dinner each day, she could help. He asked what she was planning to do, since she had no way to get home. She still insisted that she would learn how to use the Star Shard, and find her own way home someday. He always smiled, with those kind eyes of his, every single time she said that. She still remembers that vividly even though it was long ago, but what she remembers most is how she could see that he was laughing at her on the inside.

What a jerk.
---
She knew how to fight with a spear or lance now. And she still planned to master using the Star Shard. Except, she couldn't use magic often. The people from the world above were scared of her when she did. They looked at her like she was a monster, but she didn't know why. Magic was normal back home.

He tried explaining it to her one day. It didn't work. She just couldn't understand a world where magic was an abnormality. So now she only used it if she was alone. It was going to take a lot longer for her to figure out how to get home.

"Once I learn to control the Star Shard, I'll have to take you to visit my homeworld."

She remembered that day well. They were racing while riding wild chocobos, and she was winning. Of course, that may have had something to do with the fact that she puposely used magic to spook the chocobo he was riding...
---
She stood there, holding the new, larger spear for hunting that he had made her in both of her hands, looking down at it. She wasn't really looking at it to make sure it was a good quality. The weapons he made always were. She just couldn't look him in the eyes at that moment. It was too sad.

"Are you really going to leave, just to try to find some kind of treasure? What happens if you don't come back? Will I be alone again?"

But of course he didn't leave her behind. He never would. He may have been a jerk, but he was a good friend, and tried to keep her safe. He would never have left her behind like that.

"What was that?!"

She moved behind him to hide, alarmed by the combination of the creepy statues and the fact that the tower was starting to shake. She was starting to sense a very strong magical presence nearby as well. Panic was slowly setting in, despite everything he had taught her. And finally, her eyes opened wider as the magical presence quickly moved even closer. She couldn't help it. Instinct kicked in, and she started running, while praying that he would be smart enough to follow her lead.

He looked around and lowered his stance as the ground rumbled slightly, only to realize what he was up against and run. He sped back towards the entrance, towards his partner, before passing her and picking her up by the legs and putting her over his shoulder. The sun blinded him as he reached the dusty and barren outdoors, with a very deep screeching meeting his ears. He dashed towards the nearby cliff face and into a small crevice before he heard the earth snap and threw his small ally deeper before rocks collapsed down between them.

Is this not what you wanted, Keyblade Wielder?

The frantic sound of feet, and a swish blows through the air as the young man runs. Normally calm green eyes are glazed over in panic, brown hair nothing more but a damp mess. In his right hand, nothing. In the left, an oddly shaped weapon with two curved blades forming the symbol of a heart. The hilt is a dull black, taking the same shape as a heart. A Keychain dangles endlessly at the end, the words phantom engraved upon them.

"Never!" He stops, spinning around at the massive black horde behind him, greedy yellow eyes taunting him, vicious without a hint of mercy. His yellow jacket had long been lost in the run, lost among the same mass he faced now. He was tired, he knew it, the heartless knew it. Nothing more but a game of car and mouse. He was alone now. They had completely invaded Destiny islands. At any other time, Salem would have been embraced into the vacations here.

He was here to visit his mother and father, only to find these abominations scrounging around in large swaths. The only thing he could do was search for them. Salem closed his eyes at his sisters torn teddy bear. Rage bubbled from below, threatening to consume him in revenge. He opened his eyes, taking a step back on the dock. The cold water was all that greeted him. Wish bravado, Salem pointed his weapon towards them. 

"This won't be my last stand! This thing works on you quite well, so I'm going to name it....Phantom Heart." He announced, bringing it in front of him defensively. He had found out that these things lacked hearts. They stole them from others he realized. 

Their antennas twitched, backing away from the weapon. A triumphant smirk crossed his lips. "Scared are we?" He received no reply as usual. One bold, black heartless pounced, attempting to aim at his heart. Salem swing, cutting it in half. He watched in awe as a heart floated to the sky. Maybe, just maybe he could free his sisters...



"Time to dance!" Salem growled, lunging at them. He swung and slashed, making sure to keep his defenses up. He'd kill them all. If only it wasn't for the fact seven more took the place of one. He wouldn't give up hope, his father had taught him that. He'd go down fighting if he had to. As long as these things didn't harm anyone else.  

"Hey Kupo, you ok?"

Traverse Town was a world of Moogles. At some point in the future it would become a refuge for those lost without a world, but until then, it's really just a giant Moogle shop convention.

But today, the town received its first non-moogle inhabitant. A humanoid figure lay face down floating in a fountain, his clothes blackened and singed as if he had just been inside a falling star.

At the moogle's words, the figure twitched, rolling over in the shallow water. His voice came out muffled but still somewhat intelligible.

*coughcoughcough*..."Hey Ku-*coughcough*po, yukay?"

The moogle rushed over and helped him sit up. Then it struck him.

"Ah Kupo! What's wrong with your face?!"
"Ah Kupo! What's wrong with your face?!"

"Eh?"
"Eh?"

"Stop copying me Kupo!"
"Stop copying me Kupo!"

"Quit it Kupo!"
"Quit it Kupo!"

"Not funny Kupo!"
"Not funny Kupo!"

"You're freaking me out Kupo!"

The moogle stopped abruptly.

"Did you just- Wha- how are you doing that Kupo!?"

Both voices rung at the same time. Same intonation, same words, simultaneous speech.

"...LEAVE ME ALONE KUPO!!!!"

The moogle ran as fast as it could. The figure was left sitting in the water, wondering why on earth he said all those things.

He searched his mind for memories. Nothing much...a bright light...libraries...how about a name? Did he know his name?

...Moran!

A voice chimed inside his head. His name was Moran. Good. What else?

...Ah Kupo! What's wrong with your face?!

He leaned over and looked at his reflection in the water. He saw his reflection stare back. His eyes looked empty, all his hair was singed off, and most startlingly, the left side of his face was a melted mess of white protoplasm.

Actually, that was second most startling. The most startling thing...was that he wasn't startled at all. The though occurred to him as an incongruance between the reaction he expected he would have and the one he actually did. There was no...emotion behind it at all.

As he stared at himself even longer, the protoplasm began to twitch. He watched as it began to copy the other side of his battered face, completing his head by making the left side a perfect mirror of the right.

He was...no. No he wasn't pleased with it. The repair of his face appealed to an arbitrary notion that appearing symmetrical is beneficial to an entity. Said arbitrary notion was derived heuristically from the reaction of that moogle. The previous appearance of his face resulted in the moogle's discomfort, and discomfort is a detriment due to its indication of a physically inadequate position. Inadequate positions may cause damage to the body, which compromises one's longevity. Longevity is a justified pursuit because...because...

Fascinating. He had no answer.

 "Oh, is he awake?"

"I'm not sure mom, but I think so. Sheesh, look at the size of that of that wound!" A young girls voice.

As his eyes opened, Salem stared up into the brown eyes of a girl his age. Her auburn hair was rather messy, but not that he was in any condition to comment. His side hurt far too much to even form a coherent language. A taller, more older look alike of the girl appears, wearing a long white coat and a business outfit. "Honestly Jill, help me move him to our house. I'd rather him  ot get a infection out here." She reprimands her daughter, grabbing his left arm.

Jill sighs, grabbing his right, and eventually they manage to support him."Doctor?" Salem thinks, barely able to keep his gaze on the mother. The two don't seem to notice his consciousness, and it is fortunate they don't, because he loses consciousness once more. Salem later wakes in a bed, wound bandaged and from what he presumed, clean.


The door opens, and Jill walks in, tray of food. "You're awake." She comments excitedly. Salem leans back as she nearly hops on the entire bed. "Where am I?" He asks, leaning further away. She was close, too close to his face. Jill ponders, retreating. "Hollow Bastion." She answers, raising a finger.

"I'm sorry?" Salem looks up. He's never heard of a Hollow Bastion before. Jill laughs, "I meant Twilight Town. You got amnesia or something?"

Salem shakes his head. "I love on Destiny Islands." He insisted. Jill contemplates on calling her nothing in. "Sorry, but I've never heard of that. Though, I hear their are other worlds. Heh, a alien then?" She teases, then stops. "I'm Jill, and you're staying with my mother and me. Nice to meet you."

"Salem." He replied, weirded out by the girl.


And how was I to know meeting Jill would actually change my life? The days were filled with so much joy, so much happiness, but their is one thing I regret. I regret meeting Jill and drawing her into my world of craziness. I'd never been on another world. It was exhilarating, and I tasted the best cake of my life, Cherry Bell Cake. Maybe if I had tried harder, maybe if I had done what I wanted to do, it wouldn't have happened. My mother always told me you can't stop destiny, but what else could I do? 


They say as time goes on, all wounds heal. I didn't believe that one bit. There is no heart here now, but why is there a dull ache? Do Nobodies actually feel something from their past lives? You don't know what a Nobody is? Well, you'll find out later. Mark is the name now, and apparently Salem isn't in this body. Those were his thoughts up there if you really wanted to know. Shall we continue with his story, or rather his memories that are now mine. I'll stay quiet now...


"That's a nice name." Jill admitted, turning to leave the room. She glanced at Salem before stepping downstairs. He could only stare at the spot she once stood upon, dumbfounded. The memories of before hit him, but he tucked them away. He held out his hand, surprised at the Keyblade that appeared in his hand.


He let it disappear, and settled down to eat his food, bacon, eggs, and orange juice. He smiled wistfully. It was just like home.

Ten years, ten very long years. Do you know how long that is? Almost half of his life, waiting to be freed from that crystal prison. Seeing everything go by, the grass, the beasts, the travelers. Ten years he was waiting, ten years hoping she'd be back to see him again, ten years of hoping that she was still alive.

The mural painted on the glass floor had been erased. You could still see a large painting once existed there, but it had been blotted out by a dark stain, like some heavenly artist had spilled a giant can of black paint. The stairs too were carved from glass.

The platform was barren. Like the one below, something was missing. Something crucial.

It didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore.

-------

All of Radiant Garden rang with the sounds of war that day. Most had no idea what was happening. They merely chalked up the tornadoes and storms as one of his crazy experiments. True, they respected him, some even feared him, but they were also quick to blame him. It was only natural. He didn't blame them. But he knew the real cause. The storms that day were not his own, but by extension, perhaps he was partially to blame. The one responsible was his apprentice, after all.